
Orioles RHP Tomoyuki Sugano ponders his future with the trade deadline approaching
The Japanese right-hander is loved in the clubhouse, rarely misses a start and, most important, knows how to win on the mound.
Those qualities also make Sugano quite appealing to a contender looking to upgrade its starting rotation before Friday's trade deadline.
Sugano shackled the Colorado Rockies on four hits over six innings in Baltimore's 5-1 victory Sunday. He matched his season high with eight strikeouts and improved to 8-5.
Signed to one-year contract in December, Sugano has clearly been a success in his first season in the big leagues after an impressive career in Japan. The question is, will the 35-year-old rookie stay in Baltimore or be traded by the last-place club?
Sugano would prefer to stay put, but he's beginning to understand that anything can happen right up until the final minute of the fast-approaching deadline.
'It's obviously my first time. I don't know what's going to happen,' Sugano said through an interpreter after Sunday's game.
After a solid start with the Orioles, Sugano struggled in June and was blown out in successive starts against Tampa Bay (June 27) and Texas (July 2). Then, after adjusting his delivery, he gave up just four hits in six innings against the Mets on July 10 to get back on track.
On Sunday against the Rockies, he looked particularly sharp in what might have been his final outing with the Orioles.
'We need him,' interim manager Tony Mansolino said. 'When Sugano throws the ball well, he gives us a chance to win. And we need to win games.'
So does a team looking to make a run at a pennant or World Series championship.
Thursdays
Keep up to date on sports with Mike McIntyre's weekly newsletter.
'If they watched the last three starts, I'd take him,' Mansolino said. 'You watch that Mets start, I'd take him in a heartbeat.'
If Sugano goes elsewhere, he will be missed by his new friends in Baltimore.
'He is so well-liked in that room,' Mansolino said. 'The players mess around with him, he messes around with his teammates. He's done it very gracefully.'
___
AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Winnipeg Free Press
an hour ago
- Winnipeg Free Press
A year after they were (to a degree) deadline sellers, the Blue Jays are soaring
Even when they traded away a handful of established players at last year's deadline, the Toronto Blue Jays clearly believed a rebound was possible. A year later, they have a comfortable lead atop the AL East. It's hard to say that last year's deadline jump-started Toronto's turnaround, but the important thing is the Blue Jays didn't give up on their core despite being on their way to a last-place finish in 2024. They dealt players like Yusei Kikuchi and Justin Turner — but Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Bo Bichette remained with Toronto. Keeping those two was something of a risk given that both could become free agents after this season. Bichette still can, but the Blue Jays were able to sign Guerrero to a $500-million, 14-year contract in April. Guerrero, Bichette and George Springer are part of a Toronto team that ranks third in the American League in OPS while leading the majors in batting average and on-base percentage. Even after a lopsided loss to Detroit on Sunday, the Blue Jays have a 5 1/2-game lead over the second-place New York Yankees — although Toronto also has the second-worst run differential in the division. The Blue Jays have the best record in baseball by a half-game over the Chicago Cubs and Milwaukee Brewers. Toronto has won 21 of its last 27 games, and included in that stretch is a 6-1 record against the Yankees. The Blue Jays are 7-3 against New York, meaning they have clinched that season series should it become a tiebreaker. New York is just 11-18 against the AL East. Trivia time The Blue Jays last made the World Series in 1993. Who are the only other American League teams with longer droughts since their most recent pennants? Tumbling Tigers Detroit's 10-4 win over Toronto on Sunday snapped a six-game skid for the Tigers — and that does not do justice to how poorly they were playing. Detroit had lost 12 of 13, being outscored 89-33 in the process. Ace Tarik Skubal can only do so much. The lone win during that stretch came in one of his starts — a 2-1 victory over Texas on July 20. When he took the mound six days later against Toronto, he threw six scoreless innings, only to have the Tigers go on to lose 6-1. Before Detroit fans panic too much, the Tigers had built up such a big lead that they still have an eight-game advantage over second-place Cleveland in the AL Central after Sunday's victory. FanGraphs gives them a 95.9% chance to make the playoffs. But their chances of earning a first-round bye — by having one of the top two records among AL division winners — is down to 52.6%. Line of the week More like line of the decade. Or perhaps the century. A's rookie Nick Kurtz went 6 for 6 with four home runs, eight RBIs and six runs in a 15-3 rout of Houston on Friday night. Kurtz became the 20th player in major league history — and first rookie — with a four-homer game. He also doubled and singled, so he tied the single-game record for total bases with 19. Comeback of the week Minnesota had a one-run lead at Los Angeles in the bottom of the ninth Wednesday — and Griffin Jax retired the first two batters for the Dodgers. Then it all unraveled for the Twins. Mookie Betts singled, Shohei Ohtani was walked intentionally, Esteury Ruiz drew another walk and then Freddie Freeman singled home two runs for a 4-3 win. Thursdays Keep up to date on sports with Mike McIntyre's weekly newsletter. The Twins had a win probability of 95.6% after the second out, according to Baseball Savant. Trivia answer The Orioles (1983), Athletics (1990), Twins (1991) and Mariners (never). ___ AP MLB:


Winnipeg Free Press
3 hours ago
- Winnipeg Free Press
Blue Jays play the Orioles after Bichette's 5-hit game
Toronto Blue Jays (63-43, first in the AL East) vs. Baltimore Orioles (47-58, fifth in the AL East) Baltimore; Monday, 6:35 p.m. EDT PITCHING PROBABLES: Blue Jays: Chris Bassitt (11-4, 3.88 ERA, 1.30 WHIP, 117 strikeouts); Orioles: Zach Eflin (6-5, 5.78 ERA, 1.37 WHIP, 47 strikeouts) BETMGM SPORTSBOOK LINE: Blue Jays -125, Orioles +105; over/under is 9 1/2 runs BOTTOM LINE: The Toronto Blue Jays take on the Baltimore Orioles after Bo Bichette's five-hit game on Sunday. Baltimore is 47-58 overall and 24-26 in home games. The Orioles have gone 31-11 in games when they scored at least five runs. Toronto has a 63-43 record overall and a 26-26 record in road games. The Blue Jays have a 49-18 record in games when they record at least eight hits. The teams match up Monday for the seventh time this season. The season series is tied 3-3. TOP PERFORMERS: Gunnar Henderson has 24 doubles, four triples and 11 home runs for the Orioles. Alex Jackson is 7 for 26 with four doubles, three home runs and four RBIs over the last 10 games. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. has 14 home runs, 62 walks and 54 RBIs while hitting .292 for the Blue Jays. George Springer is 19 for 41 with two doubles, two home runs and four RBIs over the last 10 games. LAST 10 GAMES: Orioles: 4-6, .251 batting average, 4.66 ERA, outscored opponents by four runs Blue Jays: 8-2, .307 batting average, 3.44 ERA, outscored opponents by 25 runs INJURIES: Orioles: Felix Bautista: 15-Day IL (shoulder), Maverick Handley: 10-Day IL (head), Scott Blewett: 15-Day IL (elbow), Jorge Mateo: 60-Day IL (elbow), Gary Sanchez: 10-Day IL (knee), Keegan Akin: 15-Day IL (shoulder), Ryan Mountcastle: 60-Day IL (hamstring), Adley Rutschman: 10-Day IL (oblique), Cade Povich: 15-Day IL (hip), Cody Poteet: 60-Day IL (shoulder), Grayson Rodriguez: 60-Day IL (elbow), Albert Suarez: 60-Day IL (shoulder), Tyler Wells: 60-Day IL (elbow), Kyle Bradish: 60-Day IL (elbow) Blue Jays: Alejandro Kirk: 7-Day IL (concussion), Ryan Burr: 60-Day IL (shoulder), Nick Sandlin: 15-Day IL (elbow), Andres Gimenez: 10-Day IL (ankle), Yimi Garcia: 15-Day IL (ankle), Anthony Santander: 60-Day IL (shoulder), Paxton Schultz: 15-Day IL (middle finger), Bowden Francis: 15-Day IL (shoulder), Daulton Varsho: 10-Day IL (hamstring), Alek Manoah: 60-Day IL (elbow), Angel Bastardo: 60-Day IL (elbow) ___ The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.


Winnipeg Free Press
8 hours ago
- Winnipeg Free Press
Mauricio and Soto lead Mets past Giants 5-3 for 7th straight win
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Ronny Mauricio and Juan Soto homered in the seventh inning, and the New York Mets beat the San Francisco Giants 5-3 on Sunday to match a season best with their seventh straight win. Mauricio had a career-high four hits, going 4 for 4 with two doubles and a tying homer from the bottom spot in the batting order. Jeff McNeil doubled twice to help the Mets complete a three-game sweep and extend their NL East lead to 1 1/2 games over Philadelphia. Matt Chapman homered twice and drove in all three runs for the Giants, who loaded the bases in the ninth on two walks and a hit batter. Edwin Díaz struck out Willy Adames and Chapman to end it. The Mets, who also had a seven-game winning streak in April, trailed 3-2 following Chapman's second homer, a two-run drive off starter Kodai Senga in the fifth. Mauricio tied it when the rookie drove a 1-0 slider from reliever Randy Rodriguez (3-2) into McCovey Cove leading off the seventh. After Brandon Nimmo and Francisco Lindor struck out, Soto hit his team-leading 25th home run to left, giving the Mets a 4-3 lead. They added an insurance run in the ninth on consecutive doubles by Mauricio and Nimmo. José Buttó (3-1), the second of four Mets relievers, retired three batters for the win. Gregory Soto pitched a perfect seventh in his New York debut, and Díaz worked the ninth for his 23rd save. Senga walked five in five innings. He allowed three runs and four hits. Key moment Mauricio shut down a potential Giants rally when he fielded Adames' slow grounder in front of third base and then quickly reversed direction to tag out Heliot Ramos trying to advance from second. Key stat Rodriguez had allowed only one home run all season before the Mets got to him twice in one inning. Thursdays Keep up to date on sports with Mike McIntyre's weekly newsletter. Up next Mets RHP Frankie Montas (3-1, 4.62 ERA) faces the Padres in San Diego on Monday. Carson Whisenhunt, the Giants' top pitching prospect, will make his major league debut Monday against Pittsburgh. ___ AP MLB: